Crucian BE, Stowe RP, Mehta SK, Yetman DL, Leal MJ, Quiriarte HD, Pierson DL, Sams CF. Immune status, latent viral reactivation, and stress during long-duration head-down bed rest. Aviat Space Environ Med 2009; 80(5, Suppl.):A37–44.
Introduction:
As logistical access for space research becomes more limited and NASA prepares for exploration-class missions, ground-based spaceflight analogs will increase in importance for biomedical countermeasures development. A monitoring of immune parameters was performed during the NASA Flight Analogs
Project bed rest study (without countermeasure); to establish ‘control' data against which future studies (with countermeasure) will be evaluated. Some of the countermeasures planned to be evaluated in future studies may impact immune function.
Methods:
The immune assessment
consisted of: leukocyte subset distribution, early T cell activation, intracellular cytokine profiles, latent viral reactivation, virus specific T cell levels and function, stress hormone levels, and a behavioral assessment using stress questionnaires.
Results:
In general, subjects
did not display altered peripheral leukocyte subsets, constitutive immune activation, altered T cell function, or significant latent viral reactivation (EBV, VZV). Levels of constitutively activated T cells (CD8+/CD69+) and virus-specific T cells (CMV and EBV) decreased during the study. Cortisol
levels (plasma and saliva) did not vary significantly during 90-d bed rest.
Conclusions:
These data demonstrate the absence of significant immune system alteration and physiological stress during 90-d bed rest, and establish control data against which future studies (including
countermeasures) may be compared.